OffenseDespite losing veteran quarterback Fredi Knighten to graduation, the Red Wolves offense has a strong foundation to build from, with all the starters on the offensive line returning. The line has multiple players with NFL potential, something not commonly heard in the Sun Belt Conference. Senior guard Colton Jackson (6-4 281) has the most career starts of the linemen with 39, while seniors center Devin Mondie (6-5 304) and tackle Jemar Clark (6-6 306) combine for 20 and 23 career starts respectively; Clark and Jackson each received First Team All-Sun Belt honors.

The leading offensive receiver, junior Dijon Paschal, is back after tallying 541 receiving yards on 28 receptions for three touchdowns. While former star running back Michael Gordon has moved on, there is still plenty of talent in the backfield with the duo of sophomore Warren Wand and junior Johnston White, who combined for 1,323 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns (14 by White).

Even though the aforementioned Knighten is gone behind center, the Red Wolves are secure at quarterback with bringing two stud transfers in Chad Voytik and Justice Hansen. The senior Voytik transferred early this May from Pitt, after leading the Panthers to a 6-7 record in 2014 and throwing for 2,233 yards with 16 passing touchdowns and three scores via ground. The former Pitt starter is a stocky QB, who can run well, but could improve slightly on a telegraphed throwing motion that is a little slow. However, Voytik is a great grab for Arkansas State and he should fit well in the offensive system.

Before Voytik came into the picture, the sophomore Hansen, a Juco recruit, was the likely starter and he is a former Oklahoma signee. While at Kansas Jayhawk Community College, he completed 77.3 percent of his passes for 1,694 yards and 12 touchdowns on just two interceptions, as well as 226 yards and four touchdowns rushing.

As seen in the bowl game last December, the pass defense needs to improve on blown coverage that leaves the opposing receivers wide open much too often; the team finished 107th nationally in passing yards allowed for the 2015 season. The secondary does return three starters and the defense will have to build off that experience to be more successful this fall.

Special TeamsThe special teams is highlighted by senior kicker JD Houston and Taylor as a returner. Houston nailed 12-of-14 field goals last season and Taylor scored a touchdown each on kick and punt returns.

RecruitingThe Red Wolves bring in a talent laden recruiting class, led by top-notch transfers such as quarterbacks Hansen and Voytik; 247Sports has the class rated at just 90th overall, but that does not include a couple of the key transfers. The biggest grab may have been former five-star Alabama player, Dee Liner. The defensive lineman Liner has already sat out the 2015 season due to transfer rules and he should be an instant impact player.

OutlookOther than a home game against Central Arkansas, Arkansas State has a challenging non-conference schedule with opening up at home against Toledo and then playing away games at Auburn and Utah State. While the Red Wolves typically do well in conference play, playing away against Louisiana Lafayette will be a late season test.

Arkansas State WR J.D. McKissic walks off field after 27-20 loss to Missouri.

For every Goliath, there is a stone.

Arkansas State almost hit Missouri with a stone last Saturday night as the Tigers stumbled out of Jonesboro with a 27-20 win. The David of college football that day proved to be across state as the Toledo Rockets toppled the Arkansas Razorbacks 16-12 in a surprise upset.

Against Mizzou, Red Wolf fans packed the stadium at 29,143 in attendance in a building with 30,406 capacity. The Missouri game was only the second time an SEC program came to ASU's home turf, last being in 2001 against Ole Miss.

"Beautiful night, great crowd here at home. I'm really proud of how hard the guys played," said Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson. "We talked to them all week about trying to take things up another level from last week in terms of effort."

There have been updates to the stadium's press box as well with the construction and renovation project of the press box and the west-side concourse covering 40,000 square feet.

ASU has built a winning program in northeast Arkansas, including four consecutive winning seasons and trips to the GoDaddy Bowls as well as reaching bowl eligibility 7 of the last 10 seasons. Since 2005, Arkansas State has a home record of 46-11. And the Wolves have nearly dominated the Sun Belt, garnering four conference championships with three of them coming from 2011 through 2013.

While the program does lack the depth of most Power Five conference schools, the team has NFL talent. Wide receiver J.D. McKissic looks to have a future on Sundays with his speed and talent as a valued all-purpose player.

The next couple steps in advancing the program are two-fold, gain big non-conference wins such as the infamous Boise State has and pack the stadium to capacity. Arkansas State did defeat Texas A&M in 2008 when the Aggies were a member of the Big 12, but it needs to happen more often.

"I'm not real big on moral victories, so right now all I see is 27-20 and more work to do, but all-in-all very proud of the guys in terms of how hard they played," said Anderson post game last Saturday.

In a state predominantly overrun with Razorback fans, the Red Wolves are gradually breaking into the market of fandom in Arkansas. In Jonesboro, ASU apparel and support is glittered throughout the town. And very many more losses by Arkansas to Group of Five schools like Toledo, who knows maybe a fan exodus will happen. One thing is definite - Arkansas State is a program on the rise up, or as they say, "Wolves Up".

The number of returning starters per school for 2015 is released as tabulated by College Football Preseason. Players with considerable number of starts last season were counted (typically four or more). For special teams, only place kickers and punters are counted. There may be more than one starter returning per position due to players splitting starts. Discretion is used.